Spiral Knights - Three Rings: Don't let Spiral Knights go Quietly into the Night!

Three Rings: Don't let Spiral Knights go Quietly into the Night!

48 replies [Last post]

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 04:10

Combatmedic

Hello everyone. Now, I hate to be the doomsayer here but doesn't it seem a bit quiet around Haven these days? I looked into it and the downward spiral of players leaving the game is clearly apparent. (http://i.imgsafe.org/99a1e3b.png) Makes me sad really as I love this game and there really isn't anything else like it out there. I can only presume this decline in players is caused by the lack of new content and the increase and almost constant stream of prizebox promotions in place of real content.

If any of the developers are reading this, do you guys have any plans on reviving this game? Or is the plan to continue milking the remaining community for money with prizeboxes until this brilliant game finally goes the way of the dodo? I mean, I don't mean to be rude but where is stuff like the next part of the Arcade Redux that we were told about at the beginning of the year? We haven't heard anything since it was announced. Procedural generated arcade runs using new map tiles with a procedural depth level creator? What happened to that? Is it still in development? What's going on?

What happened to releasing the map maker to the public so that player submitted depths could be added to the map rotation? Competitions for best themed levels, community involvement and the like? Something to bring us all back! Something to save this game from going under.

I realize that prizeboxes are a way to make money, utilizing the art team while the programmers are hard at work. Well... what exactly are the programmers working on at the moment? Because for most of the year it has just been prizebox after prizebox without any new events, maps or missions being added to the game. It kind of sends out the wrong message you know?

I mean would it really be difficult to put out a few new arcade maps each month, maybe a new mission once a month or even a new Event? Just to keep us all coming back for more?

This game has so much potential. The lore it has is awesome and there is so much potential to expand it and add new content. Yet i'm saddened that nothing is really being done with it and all this potential just seems to be getting wasted.

I hope my cries are heard and that things change, my steam library just wouldn't feel the same without Spiral Knights in it.

CombatMedic02

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 04:39

Neometal

Oh look, it's SK is dying thread #587.

That chart only shows the steam users, although I have no clue how many ppl play from the websites.

Check previous nodes for rants.

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 12:20

Vohtarak-Forum

ill just post a few things that need saying

havens are just as populated as ive always seen them, and usually its a select few people (like you apparently) who end up in the dead ones

OOO never said we could get the level editor, you probably mistook that for something in the suggestions forums

and the arcade redux was announced two years ago, not the beginning of this year

edit: there was never any mention from the devs of a level editor, if there was it wouldnt be one of the recurring suggestions
if you truly believe there was, go find the post

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 06:42

Combatmedic

At this point I'm sure more

At this point I'm sure more people play on Steam over web browsers

It has been two years? Wow... Longer than I thought. My point still stands. I'm pretty sure they announced a level editor around the same time of the Arcade Redux announcement, if I could find the post I would link back to it but I'm pretty much certain that this was announced as a thing. Furthermore I am aware that there are still populated Haven instances but there are nowhere near as many populated instances as there once was.

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 07:29

Bopp

so many threads

Declining population, level editor, too many prize boxes? Okay, but there's nothing new in this thread. We have at least one of these threads per week. You might scan back a little bit in General Discussion, to see what players say, and what the developers don't say.

I recommend that you leave the worrying to Three Rings. Our job is to enjoy Spiral Knights.

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 09:48

Corporal-Shade

I'm a Wizard

Haven 4
Me: H... Hello?
5 seconds later...
??? [Zone 1]: WTS BTS recipe PM lolololol

Eh.

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 11:30

Abelisk

I can confirm that Kongregate sees around 15 players daily, rarely more than 20.

SK feels empty. It will keep dripping until rust is left. The only solution is for Three Rings to pour water on Spiral Knights and revitalize the population, otherwise, only rust will be left and Spiral Knights may see its garbage can. No company wants to see rust. They want to see a jar of water... /endsymbolism

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 12:10

Bernston

Wow...

This feels like this game's going nowhere... That is very concerning.

Still, I don't think any developer may be reading, because I think they're very busy with other projects they have, & that slows down development on this game more & more by the hour.

How long must this last?

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 14:58

Midnight-Dj

Pessimism level restored

@Bopp

I recommend that you leave the worrying to Three Rings. Our job is to enjoy Spiral Knights.

Apparently enjoying SK is a job you must attend to everyday, I wonder if Bopp knows that repeatedly doing the same thing every day gets stale, and one of the reasons why people quit their job.

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 15:19

Bopp

sure

Yes, you are free to quit this "job".

To put it another way: If you enjoy playing Spiral Knights, then play it. If you don't, then don't.

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 15:36

#10

Tempas

@everyone

If you can't comprehend basic statistical mathematics then please don't comment about steamcharts being irrelevant.

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 15:37

#11

Midnight-Dj

@Bopp

If you enjoy playing Spiral Knights, then play it. If you don't, then don't.

Unfortunately that is not your choice to make, we can play SK for whatever reason we choose, whether it is enjoying, grinding or hating on the game.

You and Fangel seem to have this idea that playing the game or living life must be a series of enjoyment, it is not, it is filled with confusion, passion, blind loyalty, anger, and misunderstanding/understanding. Like a SJW who thinks that his/her own ideal is supreme and everything else is background noise, you believe that your model of how to play a game is infallible, but it is not.

I have never posted a 'is SK dying thread', nor am I going to cheer OOO on as my friend. But in the least I think you and I (and many others) should have the decency of leaving these people alone. If you don't like seeing repeating threads on 'is SK dying?', then ignore them and enjoy your game, for these people are already a hard lot.

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 15:45

#12

Bopp

right

Right. How you use your time is not my choice.

But if you make a thread on these forums, then I assume that you want a response. Of course, you are free to ignore my response, just as I am free to ignore a thread (and often do).

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 18:01

#13

Fehzor

Allllllrright Bapp, what if-

How I enjoy the game is by trying to get it content updates?

The developers have moved on to phone games or otherwise left, possibly with the forceful help of Sega. Naturally we've moved on to getting them back, a source of infinite entertainment.

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 18:27

#14

Fruitalicious

Be careful...

If you talk too much about SK dying, Bopp will come at you with flaming pitchforks

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 20:42

#15

Bernston

Exactly.

Mon, 12/14/2015 - 21:47

#16

Bopp

experiment

Let's do an experiment. I'll stop responding to "SK is dying" threads, pointing out that the topic has already been discussed to death. So the full power of these threads will be unleashed on Three Rings. They will respond by releasing a steady flow of new content? Let's try it.

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 01:41

#17

Combatmedic

I was just simply trying...

I was just simply trying to invoke a response from staff. You claim you "enjoy" this game. Then why are you happy to stand around and watch it die instead of making your voice heard? Surely if this thread gets a lot of attention and remains at the top of the board staff will respond to it eventually. I mean, any developer that cares about their game would in any case...

Like I said, I love this game. I have gotten endless hours of enjoyment from it and I feel that I have gotten my monies worth for every penny I've spent on it. I just wasn't ready to see the game go quietly into the night.

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 02:20

#18

Midnight-Dj

@Combatmedic

I was just simply trying to invoke a response from staff.

OOO have not responded in any meaningful ways with the community for the past three years, reasons are unknown, perhaps our complaining bruised their ego, perhaps OOO are preparing for something, super duper secret or maybe they are trying to avoid our wrath (which a developer team should never do). Regardless of the truth, OOO's wanton neglect of SK has, without a doubt, hurt the player base deeply.

I just wasn't ready to see the game go quietly into the night.

I am sure Bopp and the others would persuade you to move on, enjoy other games and forget about SK, or, grown out of it. Regardless of what they may say, you have my full support on the matter.

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 07:41

#19

Abelisk

@Midnight-Dj: devs often do respond in meaningful ways, but only through the Support department. It seems like the moderators Eurydice and Aphrodite have gone somewhere...

There is a technician who responds to a few threads in the technical issues subforum.

Signs point to a massive update taking place, but it seems to be taking a while to make. I wonder what it is...

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 08:49

#20

Combatmedic

It would just be nice to know...

It would just be nice to know that they are actually working on something really. It would be nicer to get details but really I just want to know that they haven't given up on the game. :/

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 11:34

#21

Fangel

Oh hey it's this again.

Bottom line is that these forums are for us players to talk on, thus trying to invoke a Three Rings representative to drop by is kind of useless. Yes, they will show up and help fix things up if the ToS is broken, but typically you need to send in a support ticket with the node name in it to get it done in a more timely fashion.
Only exception to this is random updates, or when the staff has a bit of downtime and wants to act a bit silly. They'll either use the forums or play around in-game, but after a bit they'll go back to work.

Thus us, the people who will reply to your thread, have no idea on what goes on inside of Three Rings. You're wanting to talk to Three Rings, but writing an open letter and then just dropping it outside of the place isn't gonna make them respond to it. If you want more personal answers, I'd recommend e-mailing them, however you'll likely just get a vague response from a game master.

One thing I will point out is that those of us who enjoy the game and don't shout complaints aren't actively trying not to be heard. We've decided to go about sharing our concerns in a different way. Personally, instead of saying what is wrong and leaving it at that, I state what an issue is and a few solutions that I believe would better the game. You'll see me on the suggestions forum often because of this.
Bopp doesn't outright complain about the game, however they do criticize it's negatives often. However, because this conversation has been happening for the past four years, you start to just parrot the same things back whenever the next angry thread comes along because, really, there isn't more to say. That plus if you don't enjoy a game - an optional entertainment path - you shouldn't be obligated to play it... And you know what? I enjoy the game for what it is at this very moment.

That doesn't mean I don't want it to change, heavens no. I want to see the best for Spiral Knights, and as for now, I'm along for the ride.

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 11:53

#22

Corporal-Shade

I'm a Wizard

[ Make New Thread ]

Subject: [ omg game is dying ]
Comment: guys thisisnt obvios enouhg btu the game is dying the players are leaving les make a new event where orbs r 10x as common and radients appear in depths 18-23 plz do it ooo

P.S. I seem to like making infantile posts mimicking the author like a toddler for some reason.
P.P.S. Why do I even read these threads anymore.

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 11:59

#23

Fehzor

No we want Bopp to comment so that the threads have more hits and it appears as if there's an actual discussion.

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 12:26

#24

Ironclaw-Mender

it's kinda hard to work a game when you're understaffed and are probably working on like 15 other games at once
maybe if sk was more popular there'd be more staff dedicated to it, but right now its right at the end of a development backlog, behind like 20 sonic games nobody will buy

Tue, 12/15/2015 - 17:52

#25

Falminar

New content confirmed in Winterfest.

Also, plenty of people are yelling "DIS GAYM IZ DYAN" all the time...

Wed, 12/16/2015 - 02:12

#26

Combatmedic

This wasn't a complaint thread.

This wasn't a complaint thread. Like I said, I just wanted to invoke a response from staff. There has to be staff moderating the forum otherwise all hell would break loose and I was just hoping that one of them might feel compelled to let us know what is going on with Spiral Knights Development at the moment.

I also wanted this thread to be a centralized point of discussion for the game and well, for people to show their support for the game to developers because the game seems like it is dying because it hasn't had any new content in a while but it's not going to get new content because it is dying. I wanted to show the developers that there are people that care about this game and that want it to continue being in our lives.

Instead I'm seeing a lot of "Oh this thread again." replies from people who have clearly missed the point of why I'm doing this. If this is you I recommend you read this post and my original post again. Like... properly read it not just skim over it.

So yeah, if you care about this game and would like to know if it does actually have a future let the staff know here and send this thread to your friends and get them to show their support as well.

I do enjoy the game in its current form I said this from the beginning, I wasn't complaining and I apologize if it came across this (though I'm not sure how it would) but I want to be able to enjoy this game for a long time into the future and if it doesn't get any new content the player situation will get worse and Sega will eventually pull the plug on the servers. If that happens future generations won't be able to enjoy this awesome, one of a kind game that we have all had the pleasure of playing. Not only that but we won't be able to play it either and that makes me sad.

So yeah, like I said, show your support for Spiral Knights and get this thread seen.

Wed, 12/16/2015 - 08:26

#27

Abelisk

"show your support for Spiral Knights and get this thread seen."

You're late to the party - there are many threads like this already.

Thu, 12/17/2015 - 02:18

#28

Combatmedic

Maybe?

Maybe? But they obviously failed if they aren't currently at the top of the board?

At least we got a bit of new content in with the Winterfest update?

Thu, 12/17/2015 - 04:02

#29

Cavebat

SO TRUE

my point in my mind is the exact same as combat medic's above in his new reply: We appeal our reasons to the devs, devs put just a small ounce of their efforts into this game, and that makes a long living, thriving community within SK. if that doesnt happen, say good bye to all your hard work on sk, and the game itself.

Thu, 12/17/2015 - 08:40

#30

Abelisk

Combatmedic: this thread will sink past the top of the board rather quickly.

Thu, 12/17/2015 - 13:00

#31

Fangel

Stay passionate, but try to be passionate at the right people

You're late to the party - there are many threads like this already.

Maybe? But they obviously failed if they aren't currently at the top of the board?

Yours is simply the newest. After everyone has said exactly what they have said the last fifty times and have moved onto more interesting threads, this one will sink past the front page and be promptly forgotten.

We aren't trying to be rude to you or say that your points are invalid, but simply that you're talking to the wrong people, especially since the topic has been discussed to death and most replies you'll get are going to be short, concise versions of all of the long arguments we've made for our forum life.

Fri, 12/18/2015 - 04:15

#32

Combatmedic

I understand that Fangel but

I understand that Fangel but it will only be forgotten if we let it be forgotten. Keep the support coming, get your friends to support the thread and who knows we might get some kind of answer.

We certainly won't unless the masses band together and show support for this game.

Sat, 12/19/2015 - 18:22

#33

Ponypoo

I love Spiral Knights, I

I love Spiral Knights, I think it has a lot more potential too- but it just seems like they aren't doing very much new or different with it. They don't do as many updates or keep us informed as most games, and there isn't very much they have to announce other than the same boxes every year.

There needs to be more of a sense of community too, it seems like such a small game- like half of the people I've seen in these forums, I've seen in-game many times.

Tue, 01/05/2016 - 08:48

#34

Combatmedic

I agree.

I agree. It would just be nice to have a little bit of communication really. Anything, just to let us know that the developers haven't given up on this game. As it stands a lot of people in my guild are very worried. Also, Happy new year everyone. :)

Tue, 01/05/2016 - 12:06

#35

Midnight-Violet

Hey I was wondering...

Has anyone been keeping an accurate count of how many "GUYS! SPIRAL KNIGHTS IS DYING!" threads have been created? At the very least from the beginning of 2014 or 2015 to now would be interesting to see how many of these do crop up. (Since well, they seem to show up at least once or twice on the first page whenever I do check the forums. I check the forums often on my free time, at least once a day if possible.)

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 08:59

#36

Combatmedic

@Midnight-Violet

Just because you refuse to acknowledge it doesn't mean it isn't happening. Check the stats man the fact of the matter is this game will die unless the developers do something about it. At least some of us are trying to get some answers.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:26

#37

Klipik-Forum

The stats don't change, there's no need to make a new thread about the same thing every two weeks. It makes no difference and it clutters the forums.

Sun, 01/10/2016 - 03:33

#38

Most-Wanted-Guy

dead end

The hype train I've been on for years seems to go nowhere so why am I still hyped about every thing when there's nothing in the end

Mon, 01/11/2016 - 01:55

#39

Combatmedic

@Most-Wanted-Guy

I think it's mostly hope more than anything. Just hoping the developers are actually working on something and that this silence will soon be broken. :/

Wed, 01/13/2016 - 10:39

#40

Alternate-Dragon

From what I heard, they had

From what I heard, they had internal problems and need the promotions to keep the game afloat. They are in no shape to hire a developing team again unless a miracle happens.

Wed, 01/13/2016 - 12:27

#41

Fangel

...

They are in no shape to hire a developing team again unless a miracle happens.

http://www.threerings.net/jobs/

They are hiring a development team. They just need the right people to apply.

Fri, 01/22/2016 - 05:43

#42

Combatmedic

That's interesting...

That's interesting. Thing is why has no one mentioned this. I mean, simple communication to let us know that programmers have left the company and that they are looking for replacements to get content going again would at least keep us in the loop. Urgh, I don't understand the stay quite about such major issues mentality of some game development companies. Makes no sense. Just let us know what is going on...

Fri, 01/22/2016 - 12:55

#43

Fangel

Err...

They've been hiring since before Nick left a few years back. The fact that they're hiring isn't really news anymore.

This has been mentioned many times in the past, you just likely weren't looking into those conversations when they happened.

Tue, 02/02/2016 - 07:57

#44

Combatmedic

I guess not.

I guess not. I don't get why Nick wanted out, have a feeling it was probably because Saga was calling the shots that he wasn't happy with or something... Doubt we will ever find out the real reason though.

Tue, 02/02/2016 - 13:33

#45

Cyphereau

"Reported for bumping this thread multiple times. Enjoy your suspension!" - Excerpts from "Tales of the Cypherean Ventures: Time of Light and Beyond the Caricature" (02/02/2016)

Tue, 02/02/2016 - 16:14

#46

Inquistitive-Ego

Ms. Proudmoore, I presume?

Hmmm, Combatmedic, I know you from somewhere.

P.S. you missed a pun in the title (don't go quietly into the KNIGHT, yeesh)

Comon people, SK has been dying for like, 2 or three years, AND YET WILL STILL PLAY IT. This points to a dedication of the remaining playerbase, no matter how small it is. And to the fact that even though content updates are almost a thing of the past (@OOO I need the gunner update armor with bomber perks pls) we still love this game to bits.

/endemotionaloutburst

Wed, 02/10/2016 - 05:09

#47

Combatmedic

@Inquistitive-Ego

I get that, I do. But unless people do something then it won't ever get any better. I'm not saying the remaining player base isn't dedicated but I'm saying that standing around being quiet about these issues won't make them any better. Same goes for the countless prize box promotions, if they keep getting bought there isn't any need to put out any new content.

The game is on a knife edge really on one hand we need to show support for the game and want to support it buy putting money into it thus keeping it alive. On the other whilst the publishers are making easy money off of the prize boxes they won't change or add new content in to bring in new players...

Wed, 02/10/2016 - 11:47

#48

Petater

@Inquistitive-Ego

We passed the point where the company moves employees over to other projects though for easier short term profits. All sources that are google-able point to the current company having more employees than previously. That's why I don't believe it's a case of understaffing causing lack of updates. We also had our last actual update (10-2 and 10-3 missions) a month after the last OOO founder leaving, according to other google-able sources.

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Three Rings: Don't let Spiral Knights go Quietly into the Night!